Machine eoe tempering scythes



c. P- CROSSMAN.

Tempering Scythes.

Patenied July '28; 1857.

AM. PHOTO-LITHO.CO.N.Y. [OSBORNE'S PROCESS) cating the plane of section.

C. P. CROSSMAN, OF WARREN, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR TEMPERING SCYTHES.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 17,872, dated July 28, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, C. P. CRossMAN, of Warren, in the county of WVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Implement or Device for Tempering Scythes and Similar Tools or Implements; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1, is a longitudinal vertical section of my improvement; (00), (as), Fig. 2 indi- Fig. 2, is a transverse vertical section of ditto; (y), (y), Fig. 1 indicating the plane of section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

This invention consists in the employment within a suitable water tank of a pair of movable jaws and boxes, for seizing, hold in and conve 'ng the scythe-blade or ot er article whil being tempered, substantially as hereinafter described.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A re resents a rectangular box or tank which orms a water reservoir. This box or tank is constructed of wood, and should be rather longer than the tool to be tempered. Within the tank or box A two pairs of guides (a), (a), (b) (b), are placed. The lower partsof these guides are in a vertical position within the box or tank; but their upper parts are curved toward the sides of the box or tank, as shown clearly in Fig. 2.

B represents a treadle, one end of which is fitted and works loosely in a socket (c), attached to the base 0 of the box or tank.

D, D, represent two jaws. These jaws are formed of iron bars, curved so as to correspond in form to the tool they are intended to grasp; the tool in the present instance being a scythe, such tool being represented in the drawings and designated by E. The jaws D are transversely of triangular or an a proximating form, and their face or sides W hich grasp the tool are quite narrow, see

Fig. 2. The jaws D are attached to the u er ends of two pairs of cross levers F, F, t e ower ends of which have plates (cl) attached to them, one to each; said plates working between the guides (a), (a), (b), (b). Each pair of levers works on a fulcrum pin (e), and the plates (d), of each pair of levers have The springs (f) have a tendency to keep the jaws distended. Short arms or bars (g) are also attached to the jaws D, the lower ends.

of which arms are pivoted in boxes (h).

The two pairs of arms (g) nearest the central portion of the arms are connected at their lower ends by a cross bar ('5), and this bar (i) has a curved rod (3') attached to it; said rod being connected to the treadle B.

The operation is as follows :The box or tank A is supplied with the requisite quantity of water, and the scythe E being properly heated is placed by the operator between the jaws D D the back of the scythe resting on the boxes (h). The operator then places his foot on the treadle B and depresses it, and as the plates (d) of the levers F pass between the parallel and vertical ortions of the guides (a), (a), (b), (b), the ower and also the upper ends of said levers will be forced toward each other and the jaws D D will firmly grasp the scythe E, which, when the treadle is fully depressed, will be immersed in the water and tempered or hardened, the jaws D preventing the scythe from warping or springing in consequence of being thus immersed in the water while in a heated state. When the scythe has been immersed a sufficient length of time the operator allows the treadle to rise, and the jaws D, when the plates (d) at their lower ends of the levers F reach the rounded upper ends of the guides (a), (a), (b), (b), are expanded or distended by the springs (j), and the operator withdraws the tempered scythe from between the jaws and places another there to be operated on as before.

Scythes, knives, and similar tools, are always warped or sprung in a greater or less degree in the tempering, and considerable time is expended in bringing them to their original and propershape. This labor augments, of course, the price of the tool; besides, the proper temper is often impaired and the tools fre uently broken in endeavoring to remedy t e difiiculty. By my improvement this difficulty is avoided by a very simple mechanism, and one that may be constructed at a small cost.

I do not claim, broadly, clamping tools or other articles, or securing them between jaws so that .said articles cannot warp or spring while being immersed in waterin a heated state, for the purpose of tempering or hardening them, for cast iron plates for grinding mills and other articles have been thus treated for the same purpose.

In the patents granted to A. Wheeler, 1849, and J. N. Rockwell, 1857, the ax to be tempered is placed within a box, into which water is admitted after the ax has been lowered into the bottom of the box. In the rejected application of Moss and Earle, 1852, a steel sheet is held while being tempered between two plates that are provided with projecting pins.

I do not claim either of the above devices. In neither of them is there employed a pair of movable jaws and boxes, so arranged that, when the article to be tempered is placed upon the boxes, and pressure applied to a edal, the jaws will seize hold and convey t e article into the water.

In the use of my improvement it will be r observed that the cutting edge of the scythe projects above the jaws D, when the latter are closed. The water is thus allowed to have free access to the cutting edge of the scythe, and the tempering is rendered uniform throughout; at the same time, as before stated, the scythe is firmly held between the jaws, and entirely prevented from warpmg.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

The employment within a suitable water tank A, of a air of movable jaws D, and boxes (h), for t e purpose of seizing, holding,

and conveying the scythe blade, all substantially as described.

0. P. CROSSMAN. Witnesses:

I. B. Arwoon, SYMsoN SHELDON. 

